GUNMEN armed with explosives and automatic rifles tried but failed to spring a prisoner at the Kidapawan City Jail in North Cotabato late Sunday night but set off explosions that killed three persons and wounded 15 others.

Police Regional Office 12 director Chief Supt. Benjardi Mantele said follow-up operations are still underway to arrest the suspects who were armed with M-16 and M-14 automatic rifles and rifle-propelled grenades and assault rifles.

Mantele said the gunmen first fired an RPG at the main gate of the jail at 9:50 p.m. Sunday in an attempt to punch a hole in the prison compound.

The grenade exploded but failed to destroy the jail’s main entrance. The gunmen withdrew after failing to open the gate but kept on firing their weapons.

Mantele said that a few minutes later, the armed men detonated an improvised explosive device they planted some 15 meters away from the main gate. He said the second explosion and the continuous heavy firing left three persons killed and 15 others wounded.

North Cotabato police director Senior Supt. Cornelio Salinas said the gunmen were trying to rescue an inmate named Datukan Samad, alias “Lastikman,” when they launched the attack at the jail. The inmate is wanted for a robbery case.

Some 12 men wearing bonnets, black shirts and black pants were involved in the incident. They later fled towards nearby Bgy. Nuwangan after failing to enter the jail compound.

However, while retreating, they fired at some persons along the street and later detonated an IED in an effort to derail the arrival of policemen who rushed to reinforce the beleaguered personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

The explosion killed Mark Anthony Morales, 23; Ian Carlo Sevilla, 22; and Red Cross driver Benny Balmediano.

Taken to the hospital were Fire Chief Insp. Romeo Tactacin, Fire Officers 1 Jonathan Cornejo, 23, and Jerry Anonciado, Adrales Cabriles, 16, Elvin Dulay, 27, Ernie Aguirre, 25, Raffy Yusalan, 16, Joemar Lizardo, Dave Dapan; Rizaldo Dapan, Al Temojin Lao, Jail Officer 2 Joel Letada and Police Officer 2 Ricky Santos.

Salinas said Balmediano was among the Red Cross personnel who were trying to bring the victims to the hospital when shot by the gunmen.

Mantele said Kidapawan City policemen reinforced the embattled jail officers and engaged the attackers in a five-minute firefight.

Some of the gunmen were seen fleeing on board motorcycles while the others fled on foot, witnesses said.

Last Sunday’s incident again triggered a review of security procedures in and around provincial, municipal and city jails in the countryside where hardened criminals including members of the Abu Sayyaf Group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front ‘rogue elements’  and notorious robbers and murderers are being held amid the possibility that their fellows may try to forcibly free them.

Meanwhile, BJMP Director Rosendo Dial said a mobile group is now guarding the perimeter of the jail facility to ensure that the suspects will not launch another attack. With Jun I. Legaspi